Which Phillies 2024 draft picks are closest to making their MLB debut?

The Phillies have a pair of recent draft picks that could be on the fast track to the big leagues.

Jul 14, 2024; Ft. Worth, TX, USA; Dante Nori is drafted by the Philadelphia Philles with the 27th pick during the first round of the MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Jul 14, 2024; Ft. Worth, TX, USA; Dante Nori is drafted by the Philadelphia Philles with the 27th pick during the first round of the MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

With a farm system that's very much in the bottom half of the league, the Philadelphia Phillies are going to have to cross their fingers that their big league squad can keep them going strong while a revamp is done to the minor league system.

With a whole lot of work to be done on the farm, the Phillies find themselves in what could be a tough situation. Fortunately, a pair of 2024 draft picks may be climbing the ladder at a rapid pace and helping represent the Phillies' next youth movement in a big way.

Late last year, in October, Baseball America handed out report cards (subscription required) to every player selected by the team in the 2024 MLB Draft. The best hitters and pitchers of the bunch got their own special shoutouts, but two names stood out above the rest.

Two of the Phillies 2024 draft picks are on the fast track to the big leagues

First, the Phillies' first-round pick in this past year's draft, Dante Nori, seems to be the real deal. While he's still just freshly 20 years of age, Nori played in the first 14 games of his professional career in Low-A Clearwater and he looked legit.

In 50 at-bats, he recorded 12 hits (.240 average) but scored 10 runs, drove in nine, stole four bases and walked (16) more than he struck out (14). His .704 OPS doesn't exactly jump off the page, but it's a passable number for a player so young. Nori has an extremely consistent and repeatable swing that results in a ton of quality contact. As he ages, he's going to be a player that rapidly shoots up the organizational depth chart.

The Phillies' fourth-round pick, Carson DeMartini, got a shoutout from BA for having the team's "best pro debut." DeMartini, 22, lined up alongside Nori and definitely stole the spotlight from the first-rounder.

In 24 games, DeMartini hit .315 with an .863 OPS, recording nine extra-base hits while scoring 18 runs, going 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts and keeping his strikeout numbers down. He's a shortstop by trade, but a strong throwing arm makes him a good fit at either short or third base moving forward. The Phillies love themselves some defensive versatility more than most other teams in the league, so having a flexible up-and-comer down on the farm is a major win.

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